Best Value FF Program Based in HK

[yohy?!]

So my time in AU is drawing to a close and I'm planning to relocate to HK within the next few months, I'm planning to come back every few months to visit family (travelling J) and am trying to work out which FF program will yield the best return in points and status:

To keep things simple I've reviewed Qantas FF, CX Asia Miles and VS Flying Club - I don't have much knowledge on the other OW programs and would appreciate any suggestions other may have.


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Qantas FF (Currently Silver)

Cost Per Return Trip in J (HKG-BNE-SYD, SYD-HKG): $5430
SC Earnt Per Trip : 280
Points Earnt Per Trip: 15,902 (J bonus, PS bonus)
Trips to Earn Gold: 2.5
Cost to Earn Gold: $13575
Points Earnt In 3 Trips: 43,700 (Almost 1 HKG - SYD in PE)
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CX Asia Miles/MPC (No Status)

Cost Per Return Trip in J (TPE-HKG-SYD, SYD-HKG-TPE): $2400
Tier Points Earnt Per Trip: 12,500 (J bonus)
Trips to earn MPC Silver: 2.5 Trips
Cost to earn MPC Silver: $6,000
Points Earnt In 3 Trips: 37,500 (1 HKG - SYD in PE on QF)
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VS Flying Club (No Status)
Cost Per Return Trip in J (HKG-SYD, SYD-HKG) $3200
Tier Points Earnt Per Trip: 10 (J Bonus)
Trips to earn VS Gold: 4 Trips
Cost to earn VS Gold: $12,800
Points Earnt In 3 Trips: 43,267 (1 HKG-SYD in J on VS)
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Goals I'm looking for are lounge access and good value rewards, I prefer not to load up on points (unless I'm buying them in a Star bonus promo) and have access to good availability on rewards.

From my comparisons here CX gives access to lounges (only CX though) quickly with minimal cost (useful for intra-asia flights in Y) and the rewards are reasonably good value (better than QF) - the drawback is I will have to transit TPE on every trip to access these fares which could be a pain.

VS would instead be direct flights and yield a J award seat in this example, obviously the drawback is they are not part of an alliance so status would only be useful for DJ lounges flying domestically in AU at present which is not particularly useful to me.

QF would yield Gold Status and OWS which is potentially valuable, however the cost is a little prohibitive considering the minimal value of rewards returned.

The joys of comparing FF programs

 

[samh004]

While I wouldn’t recommend MPC Silver, as you need 4 CX flights a year and 30,000 miles to get there, it does offer lounge access every time you fly CX. As oppose to QF Silver giving you a once-only entry to the QP. That being said, to get real lounge access you’d need Gold in either.

If you were calculating CX with a trip from TPE then you should do so for QF as well and you’ll do a lot better with QF suddenly. There’s also plenty of trips to explore Asia at HK prices with CX and trips to explore China with DragonAir.

 

[yohy?!]

If you were calculating CX with a trip from TPE then you should do so for QF as well and you’ll do a lot better with QF suddenly. There’s also plenty of trips to explore Asia at HK prices with CX and trips to explore China with DragonAir.

Good Point, unfortunately QF won't price up TPE-SYD even from their Taiwan site:!: I will give them a call tomorrow and see if the price is in the same range as CX.

 

[samh004]

Good Point, unfortunately QF won't price up TPE-SYD even from their Taiwan site:!: I will give them a call tomorrow and see if the price is in the same range as CX.

I meant more so with crediting a CX flight TPE-HKG-SYD to QF for more SC’s, but either way if you’re after lounge access and better access to rewards, other than AAdvantage, MPC Asia Miles might be a contender. It’s just it’s purely miles based at 30k/60k/120k and there’s no lifetime to strive for.

 

[markis10]

Good Point, unfortunately QF won't price up TPE-SYD even from their Taiwan site:!: I will give them a call tomorrow and see if the price is in the same range as CX.

QF in J ex TPE has been $2600 for the last 10 years or so using the codeshare when they stoped flying direct.

 

[JohnK]

Good Point, unfortunately QF won't price up TPE-SYD even from their Taiwan site:!: I will give them a call tomorrow and see if the price is in the same range as CX.

No, no, no!

Book on CX website TPE-HKG-SYD and SYD-HKG-TPE for ~AUD2,400 and credit to QFF program.

Cost Per Return Trip in J (TPE-HKG-SYD, SYD-HKG-TPE): $2400
Status Credits Earnt Per Trip: 320
Trips to earn QFF Gold: 2.1875 Trips
Trips to maintain QFF Gold: <2 trips
Trips to earn QFF Platinum: 4.375
Trips to maintain QF Platinum: 3.75
Cost to earn GF Gold: $5,250
QFF Points Earnt In 3 Trips: 38,115

 

[markis10]

I meant more so with crediting a CX flight TPE-HKG-SYD to QF for more SC’s, but either way if you’re after lounge access and better access to rewards, other than AAdvantage, MPC Asia Miles might be a contender. It’s just it’s purely miles based at 30k/60k/120k and there’s no lifetime to strive for.

You would need to do 4 QF segments a year to retain status, which could be a PITA at QF prices ex HKG. The cost of doing the segments needs to be considered but is not too big if done in Aus as part of the trip down here!

 

[JohnK]

You would need to do 4 QF segments a year to retain status, which could be a PITA at QF prices ex HKG.

When in SYD on one of the 3 times a year fly SYD-CBR-SYD-CBR-SYD one afternoon and no need to worry about the 4 QF segments for at least 12 months. :idea: Or maybe even a business class any seat award somewhere!

 

[yohy?!]

I meant more so with crediting a CX flight TPE-HKG-SYD to QF for more SC’s, but either way if you’re after lounge access and better access to rewards, other than AAdvantage, MPC Asia Miles might be a contender. It’s just it’s purely miles based at 30k/60k/120k and there’s no lifetime to strive for.

Ah of course lol it's been a long day:

QFF Silver
CX J TPE-HKG-SYD-HKG-TPE
SCs: 320
Gold In: 2 and a bit trips
Points from 3 trips: 38932

No status bonus on CX right? So would get to Gold quicker and OWS and much better value $/SC. Hmmm

 

[yohy?!]

QF in J ex TPE has been $2600 for the last 10 years or so using the codeshare when they stoped flying direct.

Ah cool - so CX metal TPE-HKG then QF HKG-SYD? And the QF flight numbers would attract status bonus too I guess so another 10k odd points over 3 flights. That could work too as QF J probably preferable to CX for me in terms of comfort (until the new product arrives anyway)

 

[yohy?!]

When in SYD on one of the 3 times a year fly SYD-CBR-SYD-CBR-SYD one afternoon and no need to worry about the 4 QF segments for at least 12 months. :idea: Or maybe even a business class any seat award somewhere!

Hahaha well it beats 4 x 3K sectors intra-asia:!: